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Updated: Dec 9, 2025
Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Detection of Biomolecules Using EBL Fabricated Nanostructured Substrates
Published on: March 20, 2015
Nanocellulose-based Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy sensor for highly sensitive detection of TNT
Jingjing Wu1, Ying Feng1, Lei Zhang2
1Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China.
Abstract:
Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has undergone an important development in the detection and identification of extremely low traces of explosives over the past few years. Here we fabricated a new type of three-dimensional (3D) SERS sensors by loading AuNR@AgNCs on bacterial cellulose aerogels for the detection of 2, 4, 6-trinitrotoluene (TNT). The aerogel substrates with hierarchical pore structure are favored by the construction of dense 3D hot-spot distribution and the enrichment of TNT molecules. The retention aid of polyethyleneimine was used to improve the loading capacity as well as prevent the aggregation of nanoparticles. Moreover, AuNR@AgNCs were modified with p-aminobenzenethiol to improve the affinity of SERS substrates to TNT via the formation of Meisenheimer complex. Owing to the unique structure and morphology of AuNR@AgNCs, the composite SERS substrate can detect trace TNT with a limit of detection of 8 × 10-12 g/L and the SERS enhancement factor is high up to 1.87 × 108.
